WEST END LIVE with MasterCard takes place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June 2016. Celebrating its 12th year, the free musical extravaganza showcases the best of the West End. Attracting crowds of more than 500,000 people over the course of the weekend, WEST END LIVE with MasterCard is the largest event of its type in the world. The 2016 performance line-up, announced today, includes over 25 shows and stars including Beverley Knight, Michael Xavier, Kerry Ellis, Tom Chambers, Samantha Barks, Matt Cardle and Pixie Lott.

Organised by Westminster City Council and Official London Theatre with support from the Mayor of London, this year’s celebration is set to deliver another star-studded, packed weekend of free entertainment from the West End’s biggest shows.

Longer-running musicals taking part include: American Idiot, Beautiful – The Carole King Musical, The Bodyguard, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Disney’s The Lion King, In The Heights, Impossible, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia!, Matilda The Musical, The Phantom Of The Opera, Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, Stomp, Sunny Afternoon, Thriller Live and Wicked.

New shows making their WEST END LIVE debuts over the weekend include: Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Crazy For You, Guys And Dolls, Jesus Christ Superstar, Kinky Boots, Motown The Musical, Murder Ballad, The Secret Garden, Show Boat and The Wedding Singer.

Cllr Robert Davis MBE DL (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member responsible for Special Events, Westminster City Council)said:

“WEST END LIVE is back and this year promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with the crème de la crème of London’s musical theatre taking to our stage in Trafalgar Square, live and for free. Over the 18 and 19 June, 500,000 people will again visit the area and contribute some £4.5 million to the local economy. I hope that this year’s line-up will excite our magnificent fan-base and that, like me, they are looking forward to the curtain going up on what will be another incredible weekend of world-class entertainment, showcasing the magic of the West End.”

Julian Bird, Chief Executive of the Society of London Theatre, said: “Each year hundreds of thousands of people come to Trafalgar Square to watch an incredible array of West End performances. From plays and musicals to cabaret and magic, WEST END LIVE showcases the diversity and incredible talent on the London stage and celebrates the world class status of the city’s theatre.”

Nicki Grant, Head of Marketing UK&I at MasterCard, said: “WEST END LIVE is a wonderful event which we’re proud to sponsor – it brings the magic of West End theatre to hundreds of thousands of people, and it’s all completely free.”